Ga. education officials to travel to China

ATLANTA -- Five state education officials are traveling to China next month.

Bobby Cagle, commissioner of the Department of Early Care and Learning, along with members of his staff, the governor's staff and the state Department of Education staff, will be in China from June 5 to 15. They will visit with education and cultural officials in Beijing, Yangzhou and Shanghai.

The trip is paid for by the Confucius Institute at Kennesaw State University. It was not immediately clear whether the funding was public or private dollars.

The institute is working to establish Chinese language classes in school districts across the state.

Other officials traveling include Kristin Bernhard, education policy adviser for Gov. Nathan Deal, and Bill Gambill, a special assistant to state schools Superintendent John Barge.